This Week at the U.S. Coast Guard — week of May 11, 2026

This week the Coast Guard published a mix of temporary waterway closures for events and cleanup work, plus two proposals that would make recurring Virginia event restrictions permanent. The most immediate effects on boaters are a brief fireworks closure on the Delaware River in Philadelphia on May 12 and a four-hour closure around a fireworks barge near South Padre Island, Texas, on May 16.

Event closures affecting boaters this week

• Delaware River, Philadelphia: The river is closed within 500 feet of the fireworks barge near Penn’s Landing from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. on May 12. No vessel may enter unless a Coast Guard patrol officer approves it.
• Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, Texas: A temporary safety zone extends 800 feet around a fireworks barge from 8 p.m. to midnight on May 16, keeping boats, swimmers, and marine life out of the debris drop zone.
• Ohio River near Cincinnati: A security zone covering the full width of the river from mile marker 461 to 473 was active through 11:59 p.m. on May 11 so the Secret Service could secure a water route for a visiting official. Boaters should check Coast Guard radio broadcasts for enforcement windows and request permission if transit is necessary.

Closures for cleanup and repair work

• Bancroft Canal, Cameron Parish, Louisiana: A temporary safety zone keeps vessels out of the canal so boats do not collide with oil spill cleanup equipment or workers.
• Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near New Orleans: The temporary safety zone from mile marker 6.5 to 10 east of Harvey Lock, including the Florida Avenue Bridge area, is extended through May 22. The waterway remains closed to protect boaters from sewage contaminants and response vessels while crews fix a leak.

Upcoming event closures announced this week

• Seddon Channel, Tampa, Florida: A safety zone near the Tampa Convention Center is in effect daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 18–22, for a scheduled event.
• East of Miami Beach, Florida: Waters in the performance zone for the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show are closed daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 22–24.
• St. George Creek, Piney Point, Maryland: A roughly 1,750-yard by 940-yard stretch is closed to unpermitted vessels from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 6 and 7 for vintage powerboat races.
• Prospect Bay, near Kent Island, Maryland: A section of the bay near Kent Island Narrows closes to non-participants from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on June 6 for a crab skiff power boat race.
• James River, Richmond, Virginia: The Coast Guard is proposing a one-hour safety zone on June 13 for a fireworks display by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Traffic is normally low in that area, and the restriction would be narrow and temporary.

Proposed permanent rules for recurring Virginia events

• Fireworks displays: The Coast Guard wants to replace year-by-year temporary safety zones with three new recurring zones and one updated existing zone in its East District regulations. This is largely administrative: mariners would know in advance which river sections close on holiday weekends, and organizers would have a clearer permitting framework.
• Boat races: Three Virginia boat events that occur on a predictable annual schedule would be codified into permanent local regulations instead of requiring new temporary rules each year. The Coast Guard is seeking public comment on both proposals; the practical effect would be a standing schedule for when and where water access is restricted.

---

This weekly agency digest is generated from federal records (the Federal Register and Congress.gov) and summarized in plain English. It may simplify or omit detail — follow the linked official sources before relying on any item. Part of The Boring Parts.